Hansi Flick talks Lamine, Fermin, Deco, Barcelona title celebrations, UCL ambitions | OneFootball

In an interview with Barça One, Hansi Flick shared his thoughts after completing his first season as head coach of FC Barcelona, outlining his ambitions after signing a new contract until 2027 earlier this month.

Having taken over the reins of the team from Xavi Hernandez last summer, following a disappointing campaign that ended without any trophies, Flick guided Barcelona to a domestic treble in his debut campaign.

Indeed, Barça secured the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup under the German tactician, doing so by playing an exciting brand of football.

On success and ambitions

Reflecting on the team’s success while also underlining their ambitions for the future, Flick said:

“We work hard and try to play at the highest level and that, of course, is Champions League level, and we also want to win the title.

“In the end, at Barcelona, it’s always like that: you have to win titles. And of course, in the first season, we won three, which is very good.”

Talking about how he wants his team to play on the field, Flick remarked: “I know it’s not easy, but in the end we have to work hard.

“We also have to stick together, show that we are a great team. And that can be shown in defence, but also in attack, and that’s what I want to see in my team.”

Continuing, the 60-year-old manager added: “For me it’s not about perfection, I’ve always said that, it’s about progression.

“When I see the team improving, getting better, which is what I want, helping each player to show their best version for this club is incredible, that’s what we’re here for.”

Praise for Lamine, Fermin

The Barcelona manager then highlighted the impact of emerging talents such as Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez, who played a role in the team’s success this season.

“Lamine is a genius who is only 17 years old. I think we have to help him. I hope he wants it too, that we can take care of him, because he is young and now it looks like everything is easy. And it looks easy, but it’s not,” said Flick on Yamal.

Flick hailed Lamine as a genius. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“If you want to play at the top level for the next 15 years you have to train very well and also be mentally at the top level, and that’s the important thing,” he added.

“Lamine is smart, he’s intelligent and it’s not just about enjoying everything, you also have to work and work, because players with this talent have to do that too.”

Flick also acknowledged Fermin Lopez’s key role in decisive matches, including the Espanyol fixture which helped Barcelona clinch the title.

“In the end, with a clean sheet and of course, with Lamine and Fermin, it’s great to have these young players at this level, they also decide games and the championship,” he noted.

In fact, Flick described the Espanyol vs Barcelona match as “the most difficult” one of the season.

“The most important match was not the big ones, for me it was Espanyol, because I knew it would be very tough. A day before, Madrid scored five seconds before the end and I knew that against Espanyol it would be difficult,” said Flick.

Continuing, the Barça boss added:“’Dela’ [Jose de la Fuente] and the others had already told me, that it wouldn’t be easy because it’s a derby, but we did well.

“Espanyol also played very well, they defended well and hurt us on the counter-attacks, but in the end, with a clean sheet and of course, with Lamine and Fermin, it’s great.”

On working with his staff and management

Discussing the harmony between the staff and the sporting management led by Deco and Bojan Krkic Jr., Flick noted:

“From the style, from the philosophy that we want to play, we want to give the players more choices and also the team.

“And it’s very positive to be able to talk to Bojan and Deco about the next few years, it’s not just about one year, but about the future, and we’ll see what happens. We can even talk about the 26/27 season, what could happen.”

Flick has good synergy with Deco. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

The manager also gave credit to the team’s fitness coach Julio Tous and credited Deco for his appointment, saying:

“It’s important to have the best physical trainer here, the best people in Barcelona. And of course, I could bring someone with me from Germany, but there is a different philosophy here.

“These players need a philosophy that fits with the way we want to play football. For me, this is also Deco’s great work, because he brought in people with a lot of experience… Julio Tous is one of the best, maybe the best at this.”

The celebratory parade left a strong impression on the German coach, as he noted: “The rally was incredible, when you see this… we saw a lot of people crying with joy because they were so satisfied with the team and with what we achieved this season.

“That’s the greatness of our job, that we can make other people happy, the fans, the Cules, it’s a very nice thing.”

Concluding, he remarked: “Now I feel I have the responsibility to work hard again next season. I feel I have to do it, it’s my job and I will do it for them.”